BRO. SMITH:—It is some two years or more since we embraced the truth of the Third Angel's Message and have since been trying to keep all the Commandments of God, and we still feel inclined to press our way on by the way of the cross, striving to overcome through the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. The blessed anticipation of rest in the land of promise encourages our hearts to contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. But "we walk alone and oft are sad, and falls the briny tear." Yet the prospect seems to brighten as base prejudice is giving away, and light from the Sanctuary begins to disperse the darkness around us.
Quite a number of late have acknowledged the seventh day to be the Sabbath, and some we are inclined to think will keep it holy. We praise God for the blessed word. It is a lamp to our feet,
"A blissful boon to mortals given,
To guide my erring steps toward heaven."
We feel thankful to the brethren and sisters for the light and encouragement we have received by letters through the Review and Herald. The way seems to brighten before us. The way in which the Saviour bore the cross, is marked with blood; but we have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin; yet as he was, so are we in this world. Surely the dragon's ire is stirred against the remnant, who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus.
We have our trials as others of like precious faith. Our conflicts of late with the powers of darkness have been severe; but the form of the fourth has been with us, and we hope to stand with him and that blessed company that shall stand on mount Zion. I feel more inclined to-day than ever to go on if possible. The way to glory is by the way of the cross. Heb. ii, 10, 11. "For it became him for whom are all things . . . in bringing many sons to glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through suffering; for both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one."
"Shall we be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed through bloody seas?"
Yours in hope.
A. BELDEN.
Clinton Co., N. Y.
Progress of the Monterey Church
By J. F. Case
From Bro. Case.
BRO. SMITH:—I take the liberty to address you a few lines, to inform you of the condition of the church in Monterey, Mich. The work steadily progresses although there is opposition. The sword of the Spirit is cutting its way into the hearts of the honest, while those who have had the "scoring and hewing" by the prophets are being drawn together by the bands of christian love and fellowship.
We have meetings every Sabbath, and find by happy experience that it is good to wait upon the Lord. Last Sabbath as we arrived at the school-house in which we had held meetings every alternate Sabbath, we found it locked against us, and accordingly repaired to the barn of Bro. Kenyon, where we were praising God when Bro. Frisbie unexpectedly arrived in our midst, which sent a thrill of joy to every heart, and gave new life to our meeting. We had a refreshing time from the presence of the Lord.
Bro. Frisbie preached in the afternoon on gospel order, and First-day on "The Day of the Lord." The word spoken had a good effect, and I trust was treasured up in many good and honest hearts. Thank God for a truth that has got power in it; for a glorious truth that will take hold of the soul. This is what God's people want, and this is what they have got.
"O God, my heart is fixed, I will sing and give praise even with my glory." Ps. cviii, 1.
Yours in hope of the soon coming of Christ.
J. F. CASE.
Business.
By Editor
C. G. Cramer:—We received a letter from you dated March 20th, 1856, containing $1 for Review, which you will find receipted in No. 26 of Vol. VII.
O. Randolph:—Your remittance pays to close of the present volume.
☞ Some one writes from Oswego, N. Y., under date of June 29th, 1856, enclosing $1 for the Review, and giving some direction about papers. If any name had been signed to the letter we should know to whom to credit the money, and whom to address about the business.
Wars and their Cost.
Few persons, however much they may deprecate war, realize the enormous tax they are on the wealth, population and productiveness of a nation. It has been estimated by careful statisticians, that, within the last sixty years, twenty-two thousand millions of dollars have been squandered in wars, and seven millions of lives sacrificed.
The war of the French revolution began to re-impose on France a destiny she had rejected, cost nearly three thousand millions; the war to drive Buonaparte into exile, which commenced in 1803 and ended in 1815 cost nearly fifteen millions; and the war just terminated, whose beginning was a blunder, and whose whole conduct was a series of blunders, has cost about a thousand millions.
Men are still living, men yet hale and hearty, and below the Psalmist's "three-score and ten," whose birth preceded the spending of the first cent of this gigantic waste of human treasure and life. Within that sixty years enough men have been slain in battle to build and put in working order, within the short space of three years, a railroad that would have encircled the world. Within that sixty years enough wealth has been squandered in war to educate every child on the face of the globe, to drain all the pestilential marshes, to christianize the most remote and benighted people.—Philadelphia Ledger.
Meetings in Round Grove
Bro. Everts writes from Round Grove, Ill.:—
“Bro. Hart and myself are holding meetings every First-day in school-districts in this County. Quite an interest is manifested. A good number acknowledge the Sabbath. A number of calls to hear the word. We are encouraged by the appearances of the honest in heart.
“Meetings of indignation towards the aggressions and outrages committed in Kansas and Congress are held with high gleaming strifes and stars, sounding of martial music and flaming speeches, on either hand of us.
“Truly the clamor of war is sounding! O that we by the grace of our Lord, may get on the whole armor also. Yours in hope of victory!”
THE SABBATH QUESTION IN LONDON.
The following is from the London correspondence of the Banner & Advocate:—
The Infidels and Latitudinarians are greatly enraged at the stopping of the military bands of music in the Parks, and have been blaspheming, both by lip and pen in a shocking manner. They have attempted demonstrations, by hired hordes in the parks, with which the Government does not interfere, but the rain has twice helped to defeat their success, and to quench the flames of rebellion. Thanks to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the so-called “Puritans,” both in and out of the Establishment, on whom a torrent of abuse has been poured from the platform as well as by the press. The Times disgracefully led the way, and with two exceptions (the Morning Herald and Morning Advertiser) all the great morning papers followed its example. In addition to this, the Sunday papers, from an instinctive fear of the rising waters of “Puritanism” and “Sabbatarianism” have been hounding on the multitude; and to crown the whole, the penny papers recently started, and, who cater for the crowd, have been equally rabid. The practical issue of this controversy will be, that the Saturday Half-Holiday, will gain greater popularity and extension than before. The Courts of Law have adopted it; and Sir George Grey, the Home Secretary, has ordered Military Bands to play on the afternoons of Wednesday and Saturday, in the Hyde Park and Victoria Park.
An event rare and extraordinary, marked last week; the visit of the Queen in the State to the Turkish Ambassador’s house in Bryanstone Square. This was of great political significance. But this friendly squeezing of the hand of the Moslem is helping to change him, outwardly at least, from the bigot he once was; and the political reforms in Turkey, coupled with the freedom of conscience there enjoyed for the first time, as well as the spread of Christianity by the American missionaries, show how wonderfully in God’s providence, the scourge of war and the gospel of peace have conspired to aid the downfall of Mahommedanism, which as a system is fast ebbing away.
The Queen’s thirty-seventh birth-day was the 29th of May, and for the evening of that day was reserved the grandest display of fire-works and illuminations ever seen in London. It was calculated that half a million of visitors were added to our ordinary population on the occasion.
Entering Through the Narrow Gate
By Fenelon
The kingdom of heaven is not to be entered but by violence: it must be taken, as it were, by assault, like a besieged place. The gate is strait and narrow; we must bow, we must bend, we must make ourselves little to gain admittance. The great gate which opens wide, and is passed by multitudes, leads to perdition. All broad and smooth ways are dangerous. Wo to us when the world favor us, and our life seems void of trouble! Crosses and difficulties are the surest marks of the way to heaven. Let us be aware, therefore, of going on with the multitude, and let us seek traces of the few; let us follow the footsteps of the saints along the craggy paths of repentance, climbing over the rocks, seeking secure places in the sweat of our faces, and expecting that the last step of our lives should be a violent struggle to enter the narrow gate of eternity.—Fenelon.
The Christian Traveler’s Journey
By William Wilberforce
The Christian is traveling through a strange country, in which he is commanded to execute his work with diligence, and pursue his course homeward with alacrity. The fruits which he sees by the way-side, he gathers with caution; he drinks of the streams with moderation; he is thankful when the sun shines and the way is pleasant; but if it be rough and rainy he cares not much, he is but a traveler. He is prepared for vicissitudes; he knows that he must expect to meet them in the stormy and uncertain climate of this world. But he is traveling to a “better country,” a country of unclouded light and undisturbed serenity. He finds also by experience, that when he has had the least of external comforts, he has always been least disposed to loiter; and if for the time, it be a little disagreeable, he can solace himself with the idea of his being thereby forwarded in his course. In a less unfavorable season, he looks around him with an eye of observation; he admires what is beautiful; he examines what is curious; he receives with complacency the refreshments which are set before him, and enjoys them with thankfulness.—Wilberforce.
Cultivating the Heart
By Jones
The heart is a soil in which every ill weed will take root and spread itself. The thorns of worldly care, and the thistles of worldly vanity, will grow and flourish. As the husbandman watches his land, so should the Christian search and examine his heart, that he may cast out of it all of those unprofitable weeds and roots of bitterness which will naturally get possession of it. If this work is rightly performed, the soil will be ready for the good seed of the word of God, which shall spring up and prosper under the influence of divine grace, as the corn groweth by a blessing of rain and sunshine from the heaven above.—Jones.
Receipts and Pledges for Relief of Office.
By Editor
Of the following sums those that have been paid are so marked. The rest are pledges to be paid before the first of September next.
S. F. W. Gove (pd.) $2,00. | L. Kellogg $2,00.
E. Everts (pd.) 6,00. | C, M, Lunger 0,50.
H, Hilliard (pd.) 3,00. | R, T, Payne 3,00.
D. C. Elmer (pd.) 1,00. | E, Fenner 3,00.
E, Paine (pd) 1,00. | C. C. Rathbun 1,00.
Jno. Hall (pd.) 2,00. | H. I. S. Rathbun 1,00.
R. Rathbun 2,00.
Receipts.
R. P. Rice, P. Sherwood, C. K. Farnsworth, C. G. Cramer, R. Rowley, E, Welch, Wm. Johnson, M. Earl, E. J. Weaver, Wm. C. Peck, M. Harris, each $1.
H. E. Goodwin, J. J, Perkins, A. Southwic, O. Randolph, each $2. Jno. Hall, ($1 for J. Fletcher,) $3. E. Green, J. Whitmore, each $0,50.
REVIEW TO THE POOR.—C. G. Cramer $0,40. S. F. W. Gove $0,64. Sr. Palmer $1.
FOR SAB. TRACT IN GERMAN —E. Rowley $1.
Books for Sale at this Office.
By Editor
RATES OF POSTAGE.
"Books bound or unbound, not weighing over four pounds, for any distance under 3000 miles, when pre-paid, one cent an ounce. When not pre-paid, 1½ cents an ounce."
Hymns for those who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. This is the title of our new Hymn Book prepared for the use of the Church of God scattered abroad. It is designed to promote not only public worship, but also social and family devotions. It is a selection of Hymns of poetic merit, expressing the faith and hope of the Church as set forth in the Scriptures of truth, free from the popular errors of the age. The Book contains 352 Pages, 430 Hymns, and 76 pieces of Music. Nearly every Hymn can be sung in some one of the pieces of Music, which will promote uniformity and correctness in singing among the Churches.—Price, 62½ cents.—In Morocco, 70 cents.—Weight 7 & 8 ounces.
Bible Tracts Bound in Two Volumes. These Volumes are of about 400 pages each, and embrace nearly all of our published Tracts. We are happy to offer to our friends the main grounds of our faith in a style so acceptable.—Price, 50 cents each.—Wt. 9 oz. each.
Sabbath Tracts, Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4 This work presents a condensed view of the entire Sabbath question.—184 pages Price 15 cents.—Wt. 4 oz.
The Sanctuary and Twenty-three Hundred Days, by "J. N. A." This work presents a clear exposition of Daniel viii and ix, points out distinctly the commencement and termination of the 2300 days, shows what the Sanctuary is, and the nature of its cleansing, and explains the disappointment of the Advent people in regard to time, and the true position of those who are now waiting for their Lord.—Price 12½ cents.—Wt. 3 oz.
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The Law of God. In this excellent work the testimony of both Testaments relative to the law of God—its knowledge from Creation, its nature and perpetuity—is presented.—Price 12½ cents.—Wt. 2 oz.
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Man not Immortal: the only Shield against the Seductions of Modern Spiritualism. Without the great truth that man is not immortal, and that the dead know not anything, none are prepared to stand against wicked spirits in high places. We commend this work on the immortality question, as an able discussion of the subject.—148 pp.—12½ cents.—Wt. 3 oz.
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Why don't you Keep the Sabbath? Extracts from Catholic works.—Price 5 cents.—Wt. 1 oz.
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POEMS.
By Editor
Home Here and Home in Heaven, with other poems. This work embraces all those sweet and Scriptural poems written by Annie R. Smith, from the time she embraced the third message till she fell asleep in Jesus.—Price 25 cents.—Wt. 4 oz.—In paper covers, 20 cents.—Wt. 2 oz.
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